Phil Jones Bass Buddy

Kirkowitz · #1 01-23-2009, 03:14 PM

I searched a little on this and found a few comments......

Anybody using the Bass Buddy for DB? I really don't like the tone/lack of color of the AI preamp and the eq is very limited. I was considering picking up one of these to check out. I've been using a Raven Labs PMBII and Sansamp BDI into the effects return on the AI head but both of those have their shortcomings (for what I'm shooting for). At low volumes, I actually like the Sansamp, but as the volume increases, not so much. Raven Labs is better at volume, but large.

Kirkowitz · #2 01-24-2009, 01:07 PM

Bump. Nobody?!? I guess everybody's floating on the NAMM clouds.......

Ric Vice · #3 01-24-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkowitz

I searched a little on this and found a few comments......

Anybody using the Bass Buddy for DB? I really don't like the tone/lack of color of the AI preamp and the eq is very limited. I was considering picking up one of these to check out. I've been using a Raven Labs PMBII and Sansamp BDI into the effects return on the AI head but both of those have their shortcomings (for what I'm shooting for). At low volumes, I actually like the Sansamp, but as the volume increases, not so much. Raven Labs is better at volume, but large.

Kirkowitz,
From my experience every time I've tried to "fix" the sound of a particular pre amp with a "magic box" it's turned out badly, at least for me. I fought the pre amp on the GK MBS for about a year before I went back to using the Walter Woods I already had. When I A/B 'd the AI Focus to a Walter Woods the Woods sounded better with my bass, pickup combination. Problem is, there isn't a amplifier that's more flexible for DB than the AI. Maybe the EA doubler will work for some of us.

Ric

tornadobass · #4 01-25-2009, 09:12 AM

I haven't used the Bass Buddy, but it looks like you'll get a few nice features that aren't URB-useful and drive up the cost...like a compressor and headphone amp.

For a tone tweaking preamp, you might look at the Aguilar Tone Hammer (unfortunate name!), which – unlike the SansAmp – has a relatively neutral sound. It'll cost quite a bit less than the Bass Buddy and just provide the basics that can help your sound (including a sweepable midrange control).

Kirkowitz · #5 01-25-2009, 11:47 AM

Thanks for the feedback.

Ric, I know what you mean about the "magic box" thing. Another problem with even shopping for another pre is that I'm not a knob tweaker by nature, and I hate having to haul extra boxes along to gigs. I very much prefer plug and play.

I have a Raven Labs PMBII and the True Blue eq that I could rack and tweak knobs until the cows come home if I wanted to....I just hate to go down that road.

The AI is great on it's own, I just like a darker tone/color in my amplification. I can definitely see why the jazz guys love these amps. It really does, as close as I've heard, the "like my bass only louder" thing. The problem is on my bass, with my pickup, it does seem to accentuate the "stringy" or "fingerboard" sound.

Acoustically, my bass has the tone I'm looking for (A.Standard w/guts) Pickup is a Revolution Solo II. I end up rolling back the highs and mids almost all the way on the AI to get in the neighborhood. And the speaker cabs I have are already what I consider "dark" sounding cabs (aguilar 2x8 and acme B1) I've never played a woods, but I know they are supposed to be great. I may end up dropping some cash on one eventually. I might have to check out the new GK MB500 on the way.....

Tornadobass: I will do some research on the Aguilar tone hammer. I had an Aguilar outboard pre a while back. Don't remember the model, bass/treble/volume in a little metal box (db928? maybe). I liked it for electric, but the EQ points and tone didn't work well for upright for me. Sounds like the tone hammer is more transparent.

Right now,I'm going to try blending a microphone into the mix and see how that impacts things. I have an H-clamp that I was using recently when I could get away with no amp onstage at all. Maybe I can get away with not having to buy anything at all....

Ric Vice · #6 01-25-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkowitz

Thanks for the feedback.

Ric, I know what you mean about the "magic box" thing. Another problem with even shopping for another pre is that I'm not a knob tweaker by nature, and I hate having to haul extra boxes along to gigs. I very much prefer plug and play..

Dave,
I feel the same way. I'd prefer to have just one unit to carry to the gig.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkowitz

The AI is great on it's own, I just like a darker tone/color in my amplification. I can definitely see why the jazz guys love these amps. It really does, as close as I've heard, the "like my bass only louder" thing. The problem is on my bass, with my pickup, it does seem to accentuate the "stringy" or "fingerboard" sound.

Well, for me the Focus II didn't sound the way my "ears" hear my bass
acoustically. The only amp that works with my setup is a Walter Woods. Unfortunately, his amps are out of most peoples price range. I had to save a lot of gigs to buy the first one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkowitz

Acoustically, my bass has the tone I'm looking for (A.Standard w/guts) Pickup is a Revolution Solo II. I end up rolling back the highs and mids almost all the way on the AI to get in the neighborhood. And the speaker cabs I have are already what I consider "dark" sounding cabs (aguilar 2x8 and acme B1) I've never played a woods, but I know they are supposed to be great. I may end up dropping some cash on one eventually. I might have to check out the new GK MB500 on the way.....

I just watched Dave Holland play through one last night. It sounded pretty good. He was using a Underwood Pickup and I think a Kurmann mic that mounts inside the bass. It is a single channel head though, so you would still need a blender to mix the mike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkowitz

Right now,I'm going to try blending a microphone into the mix and see how that impacts things. I have an H-clamp that I was using recently when I could get away with no amp onstage at all. Maybe I can get away with not having to buy anything at all....

Well, that's my favorite option.

Kirkowitz · #7 01-25-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

I just watched Dave Holland play through one last night. It sounded pretty good. He was using a Underwood Pickup and I think a Kurmann mic that mounts inside the bass. It is a single channel head though, so you would still need a blender to mix the mike.

Did you just see Dave Holland live? Fantastic! After my long winded reply, it also seems like I should try the true blue eq in the effects loop of the AI to see how that works before purchasing another pre or amp.

Ric Vice · #8 01-26-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkowitz

Did you just see Dave Holland live? Fantastic! After my long winded reply, it also seems like I should try the true blue eq in the effects loop of the AI to see how that works before purchasing another pre or amp.

David,
Yeah, it was pretty amazing. He was using a Czech Ease Bass. His german bass that belonged to Leroy Vinegar sounds way better, but the Czech Ease sounded ok. That quintet is on a different plane. Very original compositions, Mixed meters, and exquisite soloing. It's great jazz developed from a totally different cultural reference. They swing but*not in 4/4.

Ric

Kirkowitz · #9 01-26-2009, 10:52 AM

So I'm derailing my own thread....but if I read this correctly he was using Czech ease bass with an Underwood and a microphone into the new GK head? That's interesting. I hope to get to see him play sometime. I play country/blues/bluegrass, but I love to listen to good jazz too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

David,
Yeah, it was pretty amazing. He was using a Czech Ease Bass. His german bass that belonged to Leroy Vinegar sounds way better, but the Czech Ease sounded ok. That quintet is on a different plane. Very original compositions, Mixed meters, and exquisite soloing. It's great jazz developed from a totally different cultural reference. They swing but*not in 4/4.

Ric

shinebass · #10 03-02-2009, 03:16 PM

Hello,
I've been using the Bass Buddy for about two years now when on the road with an acoustic band (vocals, nylon guitar, accordion, drums, double-bass). Sometimes I don't use an amp, only the preamp and floor monitor, sometime there is an amp onstage, but I almost always end up going first through the Buddy. It works great for me and my Czech-ease with the Realist (with the band in question I often use a mic, too). Once they gave me an old huge Fender Bassman to use with the double bass in this fine and delicate setting! But putting the Buddy between my bass and the Fender (which I love to use with my Hofner Beatle replica) enabled me to get a really good acoustic tone. Since then I am convinced this little preamp is one of my best purchases, and a helping friend indeed. Parametric mids are very important for (double)bass but here I somehow don't miss that. The only thing that I'd add is Ground Lift.
That said, I am aware that it is only my experience and that it may not be so for other bassists.
If you guys care to check out the band I'm talking about:
www.tamaraobrovac.com
www.myspace.com/tamaraobrovac

Best wishes,
Ziga

Kirkowitz · #11 03-02-2009, 05:36 PM

I had forgotten about starting this thread.

I have been tweaking the settings on the clarus head and also on the Acme B-1 for a while now. I have managed to dial in a "darker" tone that works better for the music I'm playing.

The eq section on the AI amps is a little more versatile than I thought it would be. The tone controls are nicely centered, and combined with the high and mid attenuators on the ACME cab, you can get pretty drastic changes in the tone.

I still might pick up a bass buddy to check out. Right now I'm happy with the tone I'm getting.

Shinebass- I really enjoyed listening to your band. That's some beautiful music you are making! Thanks for the feedback. How do you like traveling with the Czech-ease?

shinebass · #12 03-03-2009, 03:22 PM

Kirkowitz,
I'm glad to hear you like that band.
About traveling with the Czech-ease - well, it makes life much easier, although people at the airport counters can still give you a hard time checking in. You know the weight limits came down quite a bit in the last years. But the Czech-ease makes it also much easier to squeeze the whole band into one vehicle - we do that more often than fly. So, yes, it is very practical. But for my taste, I really like it as an instrument. When I bought it I thought I'll use it for traveling only, I thought it is more like a surrogate bass. But it is not. It is a real bass - specific, sure, but a real bass that vibrates as you play it and you feel it. To me that is utterly important, no "stick" basses make it for me, really. Some can sound good, and sure are the easiest to travel with, but to me it just doesn't feel like playing a double-bass. So from me it is always thumbs up for David Gage&co. for coming up with this design!
Take care,
Ziga

http://ziga.gilda.si